Game device



June 4, 1929. 1 RJIO. KUSSAT 1,716,315

GAME DEVICE I Filed Sept. 50, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1 RUDOLF O KUSSAT' June 4, 1929. o, Kuss 1,716,315

GAME DEVICE Filed Sept. 50, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 awuemtoz RUDOLF O KUSSAT- 1 as? mag BUDOLF O. KUfi AT, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

GAME DEVICE.

Application 'filed September 30, 1927. Serial No. 223,000.

The present invention relates broadly to game devices wherein the success in operation or playing is determined by the skill of the operator. These devices have assumed a multitude of forms and are greeted with varying approval depending upon the degree of skill or chance which determines the proba bility of reward. When subject to manipu lation by the over-zealous swain desiring to manifestthe impeccability of his muscular control, the appeal is strongest when the element ofskill is greatest, while with the coxcomb eager to squander the monthly payroll, the lure of chance renders most attractive those devices which offer the greatest speculation accompanied by littleor no skill.

As outstanding amongst games of the above character, the present invention provides a device in which skill is the only factor involved in the successful operation thereof and it is contemplated to design the mechanism in a manner to attract not only the first class of people, but also those of questionable fame and variable fortune. Operating, as it does, purely on the basis of skill, it is free from the vociferous invective of those who object to gambling.

An object of the invention it to provide a device which may be used in connection with auxiliary self vending mechanisms, such as scales, chewing gum vendors etc., where the purchaser, in addition to receiving the commodity sold, is entitled to try to win a prize or have his money refunded.

The invention may be carried into many fields where ramifications in structure seem desirable and as the description proceeds various applications thereof will suggest themselves. Accordingly, reference will now be had to the accompanying drawings for a more detailed description thereof, wherein:

Figure l is a view in elevation showing the invention incorporated with a platform scale mechanism.

Figure 2 is a view, partly broken away, showing a portion of the track mechanism constitutingtwo of the steps in the cascade system embodied herein.

Figure 3 is a view in section, taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2 andlooking in the direction of the arrows.

' Figure 4: is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing a modified means for adjusting the mechanism to render it more easily operated.

Figure 5 is a view in elevation, partly in ceiving position section, showing the reversely tiltable member which is manipulated by the operator.

Referring particularly to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 5, reference character a designates a weighmg mechanism, such as a platform scale having a pointer a and a dial a slot for depositing-the coin is indicated at a" and a mechanism for releasing the weighig mechanism is illustrated conventionally py a tray of to receive the coin, the tray bemgmounted on a levera pivoted at a and having an arm a which releases a latch pin a mounted on an operating shaft a The outer end of the latch pin a may be slightly tapered to permit arm a to cam the pin to a latched position under influence of spring a. Stop a limits the upward movement of the latch pin under influence of spring a. When a coin falls into tray of its weight overcomes spring a and trips the latch pin a. This releases the weighing mechanism and the proper weight is indicated by the pointer. Continued downward movement of the tray results in depositing the coin in a chute 1). After the coin falls off of the tray the spring a again moves thearm a to its normal reand the arm a riding up on the latch pin a moves it into a position to lock the weighing mechanism. The playing mechanism comprises the following elements. A window a is formed in the body portion of the scales, back of which window is provided a vertically mounted play board 0. The board ismounted upon stub shaft 0 which is pivoted in casing a and .an operating lever c is keyed or pinned to the shaft. Downwardly extending arm 0 connected to the casing a by a spring a stabilizes the board and normc lly holds the latter in a central position as indicated in Figure 1. The spring may be connected to the respective elements through pins 0 if desired, and limit stops 0 are provided to prevent excess movement of the board. i

The board 0 is provided with an arcuate flange 0 at its top, havingan aperture '0 through which the coin may fall. This prevents more than one coin from falling upon the upper track at a time. Upon the visible face of the board 0 are secured arcuate tracks 0, 0 C and 0 Flanges 0 on each track hold the coin thereon and stop c tprevent-s it from falling from thewrong end of track 0 The tracks are arranged in successive vertical positions so that, by tilting the board The usual back and forth, the coin can be cascaded from an upper track to one immediately thereunder. If the board is tilted too violently the coin will fall off and miss the lower tracks completely thus losing the opportunity to re cover the coin or secure a prize.

It frequently happens that the positioning of the tracks is such as to permit certain operators to recover the coin too're-adily.- In order that the device may be rendered more diflicult to operate, track 0 is mounted adjustably as shown in Figure 3. Studs d, mounted thereon, ride in slots (Z1 in the board 0. Screws (Z secure a spring (Z to the track and, in this manner, the latteris yieldably held in an adjusted position. If desired, teeth (Z may be provided on the rear of the board to be engaged by a toothed end (Z of the spring (Z By moving the track 0 to the left in Figure 2, the board will be rendered more diiiicult to operate.

A modified adjusting mechanism is illustrated-in Figure 4 wherein the track 0 is pivoted at 6.. Spring clip 0 engaging teeth 6 on the rear of the board 0 holds the track in a desired position and its angular position may be varied to change the ease with which the board is successfully operated. A

The board is manipulated to cause the coin tocascade down the successive tracks as indicated by the arrows in Figure 1 and when it falls off of the lower edge of track 0 it is wedged between the track and a shoe f pivoted on the body a by bracket 7. An arm 7, moving with lever f, is connected to a cabinet door f through a link Spring f holds the shoe in a normal position to cause a coin to be wedged between it and the track 0 When in this position, the board is moved to the right and, as a result, the door is opened to enable the successful operator to obtain a prize. Upon the return of the board to a normal vertical position the coin falls ofi" of detent 0 and into chute g which returns the i coin to the operator.

Obviously, the form of reward may be varied to suit various ideas and the invention is not to be limited save as defined in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device of the character described comprising a play board, arcuate tracks mounted thereon, means to mount the board pivotally in a plane to cause an object to drop from one track to another when the board is tilted sufficiently, means to adjust the position of one of the tracks with respect to the others, and means to tilt the board.

2. A device of the character described comprising a play board, arcuate tracks mounted one above the other thereon, one end of each track projecting outwardly from the corresponding end of the next adjacent upper track, means to mount the board pivotally in a plane to cause an object to drop from one means to mount track to another when the board is tilted suificiently, means to adjust the position of one of the tracks'with respect to the others, and means to tilt the board.

3. A device of the character described comprising a play board, arcuate tracks mounted one above the other thereon, one end of each track projecting outwardly from the correspending end of theinext adjacent upper track, means on the tracks to cause an object to be rolled therealong, means to mount the board pivotally in a plane to cause anobject to drop from one track to another when the board is tilted sufiiciently, means to adjust the position of one of the tracks with respect to the others, and means to tilt the board.

4. A device of the character described'comprising a play board, tracks mounted thereon, the board pivotally in a object to drop from one track to another when the board is tilted suiiiciently, means to adjust the position of one of the tracks with respect to the others,

plane to cause an means to tilt the board, and means to operatean auxiliary mechanism when the object drops off of the lowest track.

5. A device of the character described comprising a play board, tracks mounted thereon, means to mount the board pivotally in a. plane to cause an object to drop from one track to another when the board is tilted sufliciently, means to tilt the board, a pivoted shoe, means to wedge the object between the shoe and track when it has reached the end of the latter, means to adjust the position of one of the tracks with respect to the others, and means to operate an auxiliary mechanism when the object is so wedged.

6. A device of the character described comprising a play board, tracks mounted thereon, means to mount the board pivotally in a plane to cause an object to drop from one track to another when the board is tilted sufiiciently, means to tilt the board, means to adjust the position of one of the tracks with respect to the others, and means to return the object when it drops off of the lowest track.

7. A device 01 the character described comprising a play board, tracks mounted thereon, means to mount the board pivotally in a plane to cause an object to drop from" one track to another when the board is tilted sufiiciently, means totilt the board, a pivoted shoe, means to wedge the object between the shoe and track when it has reached the end of the latter, means to operate an auxiliary mechanism when the object is so wedged, means to adjust the position of one of the tracks with respect to the others, and the pbject when the mechanism has been operatec. i

,8. A device of the character described comprising a play board, tracks mounted there'- on, means to adjust the position of one of the tracks with respect to the others, means means to return i to mount the board pivotally in a plane to cause an object to drop from one track to another when the board is tilted sufficiently, means to tilt the board, a pivoted shoe, means to wedge the object between the shoe and track when it has reached the end of the latter, and means to tilt the board to operate an auxiliary mechanism when the object is so wedged.

9. In combination, a self vending apparatus, means to insert a coin to effect the operation thereof, a play board, vertically spaced tracks on the board adapted to cause a coin to roll thereover upon movement of the board, one end of a board projecting out from one end of the next adjacent upper board whereby the coin may be cascaded from the highest to the lowest track, means to deposit the coin upon the upper track after the operation of the vending apparatus has been initiated, means to adjust the position of one of the tracks with respect to the others, means to move the board to cascade the coin, a pivoted member, means to actuate an auxiliary device from the pivoted member, means to wedge the coin between the last track and the pivoted member after it has traversed the length of the track whereby movement of the board will cause the coin to operate the auxiliary apparatus, and means to return the coin to the operator after operation of the auxiliary apparatus.

10. A device of the characterdescribed comprising a play board, tracks mounted thereon, means to mount the board pivotally in a plane to cause an object to drop from one track to another when the board is tilted sufhciently, said object rolling along the tracks, means to adjust the position of one of the tracks with respect to the others, and means to tilt the board.

This specification signed this 22 day of Sept, A. D. 1927.

RUDOLF O. KUSSAT. 

